The earliest known artificial synthesized ε-Fe2O3 in the Deqing Kiln ceramic ware of Tang Dynasty
Gen Li, Zhifang Wang, Jianzhong Zhou, Baoqiang Kang, Yinzhong Ding, Ming Guan, Xiangjun Wei, Yong Lei
Abstract
Abstract Metastable ε-Fe 2 O 3 was discovered on a ceramic ware of Deqing kiln of the Tang Dynasty, which coexists with α-Fe 2 O 3 in the brown area between adjacent black glaze areas, and it is the earliest known artificially synthesized ε-Fe 2 O 3 . Based on the composition analysis of α-Fe 2 O 3 , ε-Fe 2 O 3 and the glass phase around them, it is speculated that some Fe 3+ ions were replaced by Al 3+ ions during the formation of ε-Fe 2 O 3 , and a relatively low CaO content may be required for its crystallization. This work may promote researchers' understanding of ε-Fe 2 O 3 crystals, and provide clues for the artificial synthesis of large ε-Fe 2 O 3 crystals.